COLUMBIA, S.C. — 'Tis the season to see highway and airport traffic increase as travelers head out for Christmas.
The most wonderful time of the year can quickly become the most stressful time at the airport and in vehicles.
Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott said his deputies will ensure safe travel.
"We have I-26, 20, 77, so a lot of travelers. Even today, the traffic is just atrocious with people doing last-minute shopping," Lott said. "We just tell people to be patient, plan and be prepared. Make sure your car is in good shape. You don't want to have your car break down and get stranded on the road. We ask people to be prepared when they go out traveling, know what you're going to do and where you're going to go and always have safety at the forefront."
Hellena Bowman, who manages the rest stop at mile marker 122 on I-26 In Calhoun County, said that although things have been relatively smooth, safety is always the top priority in case of higher volume.
"We try to make sure EMS and all the emergency vehicles can get through," Bowman said. "We try to keep the parking lot open as much as we possibly can, make it clean for them, just to try to make it easier for them to keep going."
AAA estimates 7.5 million holiday travelers will fly, which makes this year the busiest ever for Christmas travel, surpassing 2019's record of 7.3 million passengers.
On Friday at the Columbia Metropolitan Airport, lines were short, and chaos was minimal.
"Monday and Tuesday were really hectic, and it was kind of quiet. We are on a limited flight scheduled for the remainder of the week," said airline customer service agent Paige Youmans.
Although there isn't a massive influx of people with the modified flight schedule, the airport insists passengers be more cautious about timing.
In a statement, the airport said:
"Arrive early, keep an eye on your flight status through your airline's mobile app, and pre-book your parking to ensure a smooth and easy travel experience."
Sheriff Lott said everyone can join law enforcement in their efforts to keep travel safe.
"If you are going to travel, put some extra time into your travel plan so in case you do encounter traffic, you're not stressed out over the traffic and being delayed. We need to enjoy it and have a good holiday season," he said.
AAA said that Saturday, Dec. 23 and Thursday, Dec. 28, will be the most congested days on the road and advised all travelers to use extra caution.
